M.O.R.S.A.

Michigan One-Room School Association's "Schoolhouse of the Year"
Submitted by Joan & Dale Prouty, CSAA Board Members

Fellow charter CSAA members Suzanne Daniels and Myrna Grove had always shared their experiences with the Michigan One-room Schoolhouse Association with us. So when we were going to be in the midwest this fall and discovered the MORSA Conference was taking place close to the time we would be there, we decided to stay a bit longer and attend with Myrna.

It was a joy to be met at MORSA by a group of students from a school history club who assisted throughout the day. They were energetic and most helpful. After a morning enjoying the reunion with lots of old school memories and a home-cooked comfort soup luncheon reminiscent of those from the school woodstove, we all headed out to tour the Wooden Stone School which had received this year's M.O.R.S.A. "One-Room Schoolhouse of the Year Award."

What a step back in time. As you came over the rise there sits the schoolhouse at its original rural four corners where scholars attended from 1850-1952. Looking over the large schoolyard one could picture the youngsters enjoying their recess playing Snap the Whip, Ante Over, or Fox and Geese.

The unique restored building features stone of varied coloration collected from surrounding fields. Furnished with a classroom set of matching New Oxford desks, it once again sits ready to accept the next group of young scholars.

​Some of the last remaining students who attended joined the group to tell of the times past here. Look closely and you can even find two of the original "blackboards" now painted green and displaying vintage posters.

Harking back to the days of community gatherings at the schoolhouses our day ended with a real old-fashioned end–of-the-year apple pie social.
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Fortunately if you missed the M.O.R.S.A. Conference this year you still have an opportunity to visit this beautiful historic building and to learn why it is named the “Wooden” Stone School. This schoolhouse will be one of the featured stops on the 2024 CSAA Conference third day workshop tour being held at the University of Toledo June 9 - 12. The tour workshop registration maxes out at 55 participants, so reserve  your spot early.

​Access the link to M.O.R.S.A below...

MICHIGAN ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE ASSSOCIATION